By: Abbie John & Emma Hourdakis
Rosh Hashanah & How it Originated
 Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It means “head of the
year” or “first of the year.” It is one of Judaism’s holiest
holidays. It begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh
month on the Hebrew calendar which is either in September
or October.
 The origin of Rosh Hashanah begins with the Tanakh. It is
written that God says “Speak to B'nei Yisrael ("the House of
Israel" in Hebrew, referring to the Hebrew people), saying, 'In
the seventh month, on the first of the month, shall be for you
a day of rest, a remembrance of the sounding of the shofar, a
holy convocation.”
Prohibited
 On Rosh Hashanah it is custom that you refrain from sleep
during the day. The Talmud Yerushalmi writes “If one sleeps at
the years beginning, his good fortune likewise sleeps.”
 Another thing that is not allowed on Rosh Hashanah is eating
nuts. The Hebrew word for “nut” “egoz” is the same as the
Hebrew word for “sin.”
Foods
 On the second night of Rosh Hashanah, people eat a fruit that new to the
season. A popular choice is pomegranate because, according to legend, a
pomegranate contains 613 seeds, one for every mitzvah, or good deed.
 They eat the pomegranates as hope that they will do 613 good deeds in
the upcoming year.
 Another popular custom on this holiday is eating honey-dipped food. They
are a symbol of the wish for a sweet new year.
Shofar
In tradition, on Rosh Hashanah, the people use ram’s
horns to make a shofar. They blow into the shofar 100 times
each day.
What is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur is known as the Day of Atonement. It
marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe. According
to tradition it is the day that God decides each person’s
fate, so Jews are encouraged to ask for forgiveness for
sins they have mad in the past year. Both Yom Kippur and
Rosh Hashanah are known as Judaism’s “High Holy Days.”
Clothes
Yom Kippur is a day of forgiveness, therefore you
are pure, like angels. It is custom to wear white
on Yom Kippur, to appear like angels.
Eating
It is custom that people fast on Yom Kippur. This is
because today is a day to be like angels, and angels do not
eat. However, it is forbidden to fast on Erev Yom Kippur,
the day before Yom Kippur. Jewish law actually states that
they must feast the day before Yom Kippur.
What is Passover?
Passover is an eight day festival that celebrates
the early spring. It celebrates their freedom from the
Egyptians.
Days of Passover
 On the first two and the last two days of Passover,
candles are lit at night. The Jews don't work, drive,
etc.
 During the middle four days, though, most work is
permitted.
Text of Passover
The text of Passover is written in a book called
the haggadah. The haggadah tells the story of the
Exodus from Egypt and explains some of the practices
and symbols of the holiday.
Customs
 One tradition is that a child hides the afikomen (
special bread) while the adult must find it and then
vice versa. Which ever child finds it first, gets to keep
the reward.
 To honor the people who escaped Egypt, the people
do not eat leavened grain—any food or drink that
contains even a trace of wheat, barley, rye, oats.
What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight
days and eight nights. It starts on the 25th of the Jewish
month of Kislev, which coincides with late-November lateDecember on the secular calendar.
The Story of Hanukkah
A long time ago, Greeks took over the region of the Jews.
They worshipped Zeus and made the people worship him too.
They made the Jews worship idols and to eat pig's meat. Both
these things are against Judaism. Mattathias, a priest, was
being forced to do these things. Mattathias refused. A villager
said that he would do it for Mattathias. He got mad and killed
both the Greek and villager. Mattathias went to hide. Later,
they got control of the lands.
Hanukkah Oil
Hanukkah oil is celebrated every year
when Jews light a special menorah for eight
days. One candle is lit on the first night of
Hanukkah, two on the second, and so on, until
eight candles are lit.
Sources















"Facsimiles of Illuminated Manuscripts in Special Collections." The University of Arizona University Libraries. Web.
14 Dec. 2011. <http://www.library.arizona.edu/exhibits/illuman/15_09.html>.
Healing Powers of Apples and Honey. Photograph. Shirat Devorah. Web. 14 Dec. 2011.
<http://shiratdevorah.blogspot.com/2011/09/healing-powers-of-apples-and-honey.html>.
How to Grow Wheat | Food Mapping. Photograph. Food Mapping | The Visualization of Eating Local. Web. 14 Dec.
2011. <http://foodmapper.wordpress.com/2008/04/13/how-to-grow-wheat/>.
No Food or Drink. Photograph. Clips Ahoy! Free Clip Art Island - Requests Welcome! Web. 14 Dec. 2011.
<http://www.clipsahoy.com/webgraphics2/as2338.htm>.
"Pesach: Passover." Judaism 101. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. <http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm>.
"Pomegranates and the Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashanah New Fruits - Kosher Pomegranate Recipes." Kosher Food.
Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://kosherfood.about.com/od/roshhashana/a/pomegranate.htm>.
"Rosh Hashanah." Judaism 101. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm>.
"Rosh Hashanah History - Origin of Rosh Hashana." Angelfire: Welcome to Angelfire. Web. 06 Dec. 2011.
<http://www.angelfire.com/pa2/passover/rosh-hashanah/history.html>.
The Seven Stars in the Right Hand of Jesus « The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Photograph. The Revelation of Jesus
Christ. By Gods Word:. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. <http://revelationofjesuschrist.wordpress.com/2008/06/07/the-sevenstars-in-the-right-hand-of-jesus/>.
"The Passover (Pesach) Story - What Is the Passover Story?" About Judaism. Web. 14 Dec. 2011.
<http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/The-Passover-Pesach-Story.htm>.
This, Hide. "Rosh Hashanah Etiquette Guide - Guest Voices - The Washington Post." Washington Post: Breaking
News, World, US, DC News & Analysis. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guestvoices/post/rosh-hashanah-ettiquite-guide/2011/09/27/gIQA8JrM4K_blog.html>.
"What Is Hanukkah - About Hanukkah." About Judaism. Web. 14 Dec. 2011.
<http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/hanukkah.htm>.
"What Is Passover? - Study & History - Passover." Judaism, Torah and Jewish Info - Chabad Lubavitch. Web. 14 Dec.
2011. <http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/871715/jewish/What-Is-Passover.htm>.
"Yom Kippur — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts." History.com — History Made Every Day —
American & World History. Web. 10 Dec. 2011. <http://www.history.com/topics/yom-kippur-history>.
"Yom Kippur Customs." Being Jewish Web Site. Web. 10 Dec. 2011.
<http://www.beingjewish.com/yomtov/kippur/customs.html>.